New health strategy to get Londoners more active by 2012

NHS London Release 17 July 2009

In London almost half the adult population are currently inactive and some of the lowest levels of participation are evident in the 'Olympic' boroughs.

The 'Go London - An active and healthy London for 2012 and beyond' strategy sets out how the NHS in partnership with other organisations, from public, private and third sectors, will generate a significant shift in physical activity behaviour in London up to and beyond the 2012 Games.

The strategy identifies five core themes to leverage the greatest impact offered by the Games to raise participation in physical activity.

1 Encouraging local usage of the 2012 'Festival Effect'.

2 Energising local systems to focus on activity for 2012 health legacy.

3 Targeting the inactive to reduce levels of inactivity for 2012.

4 Promoting physical activity for 2012 through workplace health and wellbeing.

5 Exploring the use of incentivisation and new technologies to get Londoners more active for 2012.

Dr Simon Tanner, Regional Director of Public Health for London and Health Advisor to the Mayor said: "Now is the time for this generation of Londoners to prove its innovation and capability to create a legacy from the 2012 Games.

"his is the best opportunity we may have for decades to put regular physical activity for ordinary people, including the most inactive, on the starting blocks. The Games could be the much needed catalyst for a health legacy for all of us - the first the world has seen - but only if we work together to make it happen."

Download the health strategy booklet here.